VOLUME 29, ISSUE 2 • JUNE 2025. Full issue »
MDS plans for the future: Updates from two global meetings
Two recent MDS leadership meetings in Africa and Asia underscored our commitment to inclusive collaboration, and helped chart a course for ongoing growth and innovation across the Society.
MDS Strategic Planning Meeting
MDS recently had its Strategic Planning Meeting on May 30-31 in Marrakech, Morocco. We were proud to host this important event in Africa — the first time an MDS Central Leadership meeting has taken place in the African region.
The Strategic Planning Meeting is every 4 years, and helps shape the thought and direction of MDS for the future. It is a “think tank” and brainstorming meeting, charged with the responsibility of considering how we can improve and refresh existing activities of the MDS, but more importantly, to identify and anticipate new clinical, scientific, but also global societal trends and developments that MDS must adapt itself and move to meet, in order to continue to fulfil its missions and goals.
The meeting brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from all regional sections, chairs of key MDS groups, and members of the basic science and health professional communities. Notably, over half of the attendees were participating in their first MDS Strategic Planning Meeting, including a number of participants belonging to the Young Members Group, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the discussions.
To shape the meeting agenda, we surveyed more than 150 MDS leaders, including Chairs and Vice Chairs of all MDS groups. The survey results helped identify major themes for focused discussion. Each participant arrived prepared to contribute high-impact ideas within these thematic areas and engage in collaborative dialogue.
The meeting generates ideas that are then translated into specific action items, with responsibility for implementing those ideas in the short, medium, and long term allocated to specific groups within the MDS. Those interested can review the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan and see that most if not all of the action items have been successfully implemented.
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With the meeting now concluded, we will use the insights gathered, along with the survey feedback, to develop MDS’s next 5-year strategic plan. While the official plan will be unveiled at the International Congress in Honolulu, some of the key themes discussed include: |
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We look forward to sharing more as the strategic plan takes shape.
MDS Officers Meeting
The MDS Officers met for their Spring Meeting in Shanghai, China, on March 25-26, 2026. The Officers meet each northern spring to review in detail the current activities of the organization and ensure that progress is being made towards our strategic objectives.
The Officers Meeting deals with all MDS activities from a whole-of-Society perspective. However, at its conclusion, we had the privilege of also meeting over dinner with senior representatives from the Chinese Movement Disorders community, including Barong Zhang, Jun Liu, Huifang Shang, and Wei Luo. This provides an opportunity for global MDS leadership to better understand and foster greater collaboration directly with the local Parkinson and movement disorders communities. In a similar vein, after the 2024 Officers Meeting we met with the Polish movement disorders leadership.
These gatherings both reflected the strength, diversity, and forward momentum of our global community. I’m deeply grateful to all who participated and contributed their ideas, time, and energy to this process.
As we move forward in shaping our next 5-year strategic plan, I am confident that the collective vision of our members will guide us to new levels of innovation, inclusivity, and impact.
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